Metallic button.



Patented Oct. 3, I899.

0. W. 1KETCHUM.

METALLIC BUTTON (No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT EIo.

OLIVER w. KETOI-IUM, 0F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, B DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, To THE RAYMOND BUTTON COMPANY, on

SAME PLACE.

METALLICFBUTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 634,17 3, dated October 3, 1899. Application filed March 24, 1896. Renewed April 26, 1898. Serial No. 673,908. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER W. KETOHUM, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Metallic Buttons, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention is an improvement on that style of button shown in my Patent No. 555,868, intended to make the same easier .to apply to a garment; and to this end the invention consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more particularly described and then definitely claimed at the end hereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a button constructed according to my improvement. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan. Fig. 3 is a cross-section with the fastening in place. Fig. 4 is a similar view at right angles to that in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan of a button with a cap of different form. Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail perspective of the button represented in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, partly broken away. Fig. 7 is a detail of the fastener.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by figures, 1 represents the body of the button, provided with a neck 2, from which depends a cross-bar or bridge 3. In the neck is set a cap 4, havinga semicylindrical projection 5, forming a hollow recess 6. The axis of the semicircular projection should be set substantially parallel with that of the cross-bar or bridge 3, in which position it is held by the friction between the edges of the cap and the inner surface of the neck, the cap being forced into the neck under great pressure.

The fastener may be of any approved form, preferablysuch as shown in my aforesaid pat cut or as in Fig. 7, and having a disk 7 and prongs 8, which latter are each set off to one side of acentral line, so that when turned in-' ward they will be apt to pass each other.

In some cases I make the cap with an indented ridge 9, (see Fig. 5,) set at an angle to the bridge below, as in my aforesaid patent, in order to make sure that the points of the fastener will not come in contact with each other, as the ridge will prevent this; but either form of cap may be used.

Inapplying this button to a garment the prongs of the fastener are forced through the cloth into the apertures 10 on each side of the bridge, and as they strike the wall of the recess 6 of the projection they coil overand pass each other, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The fastener may be forced into its place by any convenient means; butI prefer to do it by special machinery which need not be fully described here, as it forms no part of the present invention; but it may be said that part of it consists of a guide for the buttons, having a groove in which the pendent bridge 3 slides, so that the button is always held in such a manner that the prongs will be sure to enter the holes 10. This pendent bridge is an important part of my invention, for if the holes 10 were not in the proper position the prongs might strike the bridge and either break or damage the bridge or button. The pendent bridge may also serve as a guide in setting the cap in place in its proper relative position to said bridge whgn the button is being manufactured. I

I deem the semicylindrical recess an important feature of myinvention for the reason that by its use I am enabled to more certainly prevent the points of the prongs from coming in contact with each other than when the cap is semispherical, as in my aforesaid patent,

inasmuch as there is a tendencyin the semispherical cap to crowd the points of the prongs toward each other, which is avoided by the use of the semicylindrical recess, so that the ridge 9 may be dispensedwiih, although the same may be used, if preferred.

What I claim as new is- 1. A button having a body 1, a neck 2, a cap set therein having a semicylindrical rewith a semieylindrical recess having its axis parallel with said bridge, all substai'itially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 23d day I5 of March, 1800.

OLIVER W. KETCHUM. \Vitnesses:

HARRY W. RODGERS, J. MARKHAM MARsHALL. 

